Regulations for the Sound Environment Centre at Lund University

Organisational position

The Sound Environment Centre was established by the vice-chancellor on 3 March 2005 (reg. no IA 1 1144/2005) with an organisational location at the then Department of Art History and Musicology.  The Sound Environment Centre is now organisationally part of the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences at the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology.

Purpose and remit

The Sound Environment Centre is a research centre tasked with studying sound as a phenomenon as well as sound worlds and sound environments from multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives.

The Sound Environment Centre has the overall task to act as a university-wide body for research and external engagement in matters concerning sound and sound environments.

Within its area of activities, the Sound Environment Centre’s remit is to:

• take initiatives and be a driving force and coordinator of faculty-wide research in the form of projects

• initiate and coordinate contributions to ensure that a sound environment perspective is taken into consideration at Lund University

• promote awareness of the significance of sound environments for human health and wellbeing

• stimulate a critical and investigative dialogue on sound environments and research in this area

• stimulate a general university-wide discussion aiming for development and renewal as well as promotion of the University’s engagement with external stakeholders

• be responsible for reciprocal outreach and information activities with wider society

Board

Within the framework of the department’s organisation, the Sound and Environment Centre’s board has the overall responsibility for the organisation, provides detailed guidelines for the activities, approves the annual operational plan and presents the budget and operational report. The board of the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences approves the Sound and Environment Centre’s budget annually.  

The board is to be interdisciplinary in composition and meet at least twice per semester.  It is to consist of a maximum of eleven members (including the chair) from at least three different faculties and be composed according to the following:

• six members who represent Lund University, of whom at least one is from the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology

• two members who represent external organisations

• students have the right to be represented by three members

The dean of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology appoints the chair, deputy chair and other members following proposals from the head of department who coordinates proposals from the different units. The student representatives are appointed in the order stipulated in Section 7 of the Ordinance on Student Unions (2009:769). The term of office for members of the board, with the exception of the student representatives, is three years.  

The head of the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences has the right to be present, speak and put forward proposals at board meetings.  

Representatives of the staff organisations have the right to be present, speak and put forward proposals at board meetings and are appointed according to the Staff Representatives Ordinance.

Director

The organisation is led by a director who reports to the board of the Sound and Environment Centre. The director is to be a member of staff with either research or artistic expertise as well as an employee at the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences. The director is appointed by the dean of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology following a proposal from the head of department at the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences. The director has the right to be present, speak and put forward proposals at board meetings and is the main rapporteur on the board. The director continually reports to the board of the Sound and Environment Centre and ensures that all matters that fall under the decision-making responsibility of the board are included on the board’s agenda.

In accordance with the rules of procedure for Lund University (reg. no STYR 2016/702), the director is to work to ensure that the research carried out is of high quality and to promote collaboration with wider society. The director represents the Sound and Environment Centre within and outside the University.  

The position of director normally has a three-year term of office, with the possibility for re-election for one additional term of office.

Coordinator

There Sound Environment Centre is to have a coordinator. The coordinator assists the director and is rapporteur on the board when the director is unable to attend.

The role of coordinator normally has a three-year term of office, with the possibility for re-election for one additional term of office.  

Funding

The Sound and Environment Centre is funded by specific funds allocated by the vice-chancellor via the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology and in some cases by funds from external funders.

Staff

Staff may be funded by funds allocated to the Sound Environment Centre, however, these members of staff cannot be listed at the centre.  

Evaluation

Evaluation will be done 2023 and thereafter every six years. Evaluation is initiated by the director.
 

Amendments to regulations

Amendments to these regulations take place through decisions by the board of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology.